§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many crisis and contingency plans exist for the use of PINDAR bunker; what is the staffing level for each of these; how many exercises have so far been held in the PINDAR bunker; and how many are planned;
(2) if he will make a statement on the role and function of the PINDAR bunker; and when PINDAR was first declared to have its full operational capability;
(3) which categories of persons have spaces allocated for them in PINDAR; and how many spaces are allocated in the PINDAR bunker for each job function.
§ Mr. HanleyThe purpose of the PINDAR joint operations centre is to provide the Government with a protected crisis management facility. It became operational on 7 December 1992. A number of crisis and contingency 393W plans exist for the use of PINDAR and the centre is manned by a permanent staff, which is augmented as necessary in times of crisis. There are a number of categories of personnel allocated space in PINDAR, including Ministers, senior military and civilian personnel, plus service and civilian operational and support staff. It would not be appropriate to give any more detailed information than this as it would relate to operational capability.
There have been two major exercises and a number of small ones held there to date, and it is planned to hold one major and a varying number of minor exercises each year.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many toilet(a) cubicles and (b) urinals are installed in the PINDAR bunker; and how long the toilet facilities in the PINDAR bunker are planned to last if it was sealed from the outside world.
§ Mr. HanleyThere are sufficient toilet facilities provided for the full complement of the site. These facilities are usable as long as power within the site is maintained for pumping waste.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provisions have been made for the occupants to escape the PINDAR bunker in the event that the building above it has collapsed on top of it.
§ Mr. HanleyA variety of routes exist which would enable the occupants to escape from the facility in the event that the building above it had collapsed.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the location of the PINDAR bunker; how many square metres of space it comprises; and on how many levels.
§ Mr. HanleyThe PINDAR facility is located beneath the Ministry of Defence main building in Whitehall. Details of its size and layout are of an operational nature and it is not our practice to reveal such information.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will place plans of the PINDAR bunker in the Library;
(2) at what depth below the surface is (a) the highest and (b) the lowest level of the PINDAR bunker.
§ Mr. HanleyIt is not our practice to reveal information of this kind as it relates to operational capability.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) lifts and (b) staircases connect the PINDAR bunker with the surface level; and what transport systems connect the PINDAR bunker to other sites.
§ Mr. HanleyThere are sufficient means of access and egress from the PINDAR facility.
The facility is not connected to any transport system.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost of the PINDAR bunker from conception to operational status; and from which subheads of which votes the funds for PINDAR were taken.
§ Mr. HanleyThe total cost of the PINDAR facility has been £126,300,000 of which £66,300,000 was spent on the civil works programme. All costs since 1989 have been charged against vote subheads 2L2 and 2M5. Prior to this date civil works costs were charged against vote 4.
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§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many beds are contained in the PINDAR bunker.
§ Mr. HanleyThere are sufficient bunks within the PINDAR facility for the full complement when working a three-shift system.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long the catering facilities in the PINDAR bunker are planned to last if sealed from the outside world.
§ Mr. HanleyCatering facilities within the PINDAR facility are designed to support operations for as long as is considered operationally necessary.